Apparatus for sponging cloths.



B. LAPIN.

APPARATUS yFOB. SPONGING LOTHS.

- APPLIOATION FILED 151111.25, 191s. 1,0903 1 8, Patelltd Mal. 17, 1914.

ge/'cm2 72 nu- I W c d before the cloth BENJAMIN LAPIN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

APPARATUS FOR SPONGING CLOTHS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1v, 19141 Application filed March 25, 1913. Serial No. 756,813. D

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN LAPIN, citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Sponging Cloths, of which the following 1s a specification.

My invention is designed to provide a simple construction of sponging apparatus for cloths used in suitings and the like, which will meet the requirements of the individual merchant tailor so as to avoid the expense, the loss of time and trouble in sending the goods to the sponger to be shrunk, which is exceedingly annoying as well as expensive, the delay entailing frequently the loss of an order and customer as well.

My invention is designed to be capable of use by the large manufacturer as well, but it particularly appeals to the merchant tailor, as it occupies a small space, and the ordinary water tap or spigot is sufficient to furnish the spray required.

It has the advantage in `that the work is so thoroughly and quickly done, doing in a very short period of time what, by the present methods, takes twenty-four hours is thoroughly shrunk and dried. It is a great improvement over the steam devices which, in the first place, are only adapted for the use of sponging houses, and can only be operated by machinery of large size and with the cloth fed single ply through the apparatus. Another advantage over the steam treatment isthat a piece of suiting three and one-half yards long shrunk by cold water is always one-eighth yard shorter than the same piece shrunk by steam.

In the accompanying drawing I have .shown in Figure 1 a sectional view of the device, and in Fig. 2 a side elevation.

In these figures, a suitable frame is shown at A, and this supports a feeding roll B for the cloth-which is driven through a chain of gears a, Y), c, the gear c being given Vrotation through a pitman cl connected to a foot treadle e, but instead of this construction the gea r c may be driven by hand power or by a suitable motor. A fly or balance wheel f is provided. as shown, on the opposite end of the roll B. A spring pressed roll C bears against the upper surface of the clot-h as it passes over the roll B. The` bolt of cloth is supported, as shown,so as to be easily rotated through a chain connection g which passes from the upper roll B around atoothed wheel h secured to the projection which supports the bolt of cloth. A pawl and ratchet connection on the wheel edge permits the rotation of thc wheel in one direct1on only. By reason of the fact that the roll B is driven regularly and uniformly to feed the cloth, the operators hands are free to smooth the cloth and to see that it folds properly after it is sponged on the receiving platform z' at the frontof the machine, to which it is directed by an inclined guiding partition 7c.

My device permits the cloth to be taken from the bolt in its ordinary doubled condition, and does not require that it shall be spread out into single thickness, as heretofore. The moistening device is shown at d, and consists of two trough-like structures m set on edge with their open parts facing'eaeh other, and these troughs are surrounded by metallic casings n, to the lower side of which are connected the drain pipes o to carry 0H the surplus water. There is a central opening through the moistening device through which the cloth passes, and the water is sprayed upon each side, coming through pipes p perforated to allow the water to discharge in a fine spray, and in order to still further break up the atoms of water, I discharge the spray upon the bottom plate g, which has the effect of directing a finer spray upwardly against the opposite sides of the cloth as the cloth passes through the moistening device.

Naturally, I do not limit myself to the details of construction, as these may be varied without depart-ing from the spirit of my invention.

When the diameter of the roll of cloth becomes smaller, the ratchet permits the cloth to rotate faster than the driven sprocket wheel, and the operator is then able to adjust the cloth to the movement of the roll B.

I claim as my invention 1. In a cloth moistening or sponging device, a cloth support, feed rolls through which the cloth passes, a support for the moistened cloth, and an intermediate moistening device for spraying opposite sides of the cloth, comprising spraying devices arranged facing each other with a space between for the passage of the cloth and protecting and draining casings for the spraying devices, substantially as described.

rpoedeie 2. In combination a cloth support, feed against the cloth, and means for carrying 0E- rolls, a support for the moistened cloth, and the drainage, substantiall as described. 10 an intermediate moistening device consist- In testimon whereof, ax my signature ing of troughs set on edge and facing each in presence ofy two Witnesses.

5 other with a space between for the passage of BENJAMIN LAPIN.

the cloth, Water pipes Within the troughs, the Witnesses: v

' g water from the pipes being directed against L. NEWMAN,

a horizontal surface and directed thereby CARINE Lene. 

